Capitol News Illinois student photographers were on the scene in southern Illinois to capture the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Photography by Lylee Gibbs and Dominique Martinez-Powell.
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Hontas Farmer, a professor at the College of DuPage, looks at her solar telescope to broadcast the eclipse April 8, 2024 in Makanda, Illinois. Farmer spent the 2017 eclipse in nearly the same location with her telescope. “Seven years ago I was right here, pretty much this exact spot for the last eclipse,” Farmer said. “How many people are gonna get to see an eclipse from the same place twice. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” (Capitol News Illinois photo by Lylee Gibbs)
Catherine Marsh of Minnesota looks up towards the sun wearing solar glasses just moments before totality April 8, 2024 in Makanda, Illinois. Marsh traveled all the way from Minnesota to Makanda in order to view the eclipse. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Lylee Gibbs)
Jim Blair stands with SIU live saluki mascots, Jafar and Ari April 8, 2024 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Dominique Martinez-Powell)
Carbondale native Kathryn King looks up towards the sun as the solar eclipse nears totality April 8, 2024 in Makanda, Illinois. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Lylee Gibbs)
Katie and Fred Ing of Georgia sit in lawn chairs in front of the Makanda boardwalk to watch the solar eclipse as it nears totality April 8, 2024 in Makanda, Illinois. The pair traveled all the way from Georgia and chose Makanda as their second viewing location after seeing the 2017 eclipse in South Carolina. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Lylee Gibbs)
Makanda residents and visitors from all over gather in front of the boardwalk to watch and take pictures of the solar eclipse totality April 8, 2024 in Makanda, Illinois. Makanda, a small town in southern Illinois home to nearly 600, saw both the 2017 and 2024 eclipse and served as ‘America’s Eclipse Crossroads’. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Lylee Gibbs)
Individuals from Heartland Community College get ready to release an observation balloon into the sky April 8, 2024 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Dominique Martinez-Powell)
People look up at the sky minutes before totality hits during the Southern Illinois Crossroads Eclipse Festival April 8, 2024 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Dominique Martinez-Powell)
An orange painted line crosses over a yellow spray-painted line of moon phases to signify the cross-over of the eclipse totality paths April 8, 2024 in Makanda, Illinois. The orange line represents the 2024 path while the yellow line represents the 2017 path. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Lylee Gibbs)
Pam Bladdick stares up at the eclipse moments before totality starts April 8, 2024 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Dominique Martinez-Powell)
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